Rudy Focused on N.H., Despite Claims
Despite claims to the contrary, Giuliani made a huge effort to win N.H.
MANCHESTER, N.H.<br>Jan. 8, 2008— -- Though former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has generally attributed his fourth place finish in New Hampshire to a campaign strategy that focuses on larger, delegate-rich states holding later contests, statistics compiled by ABC News indicate that he was clearly competing to win in the Granite State as hard -- if not harder -- than many of his rivals.
Statistics compiled by ABC News Political Unit and ABC News' team of off-air reporters indicate that Giuliani held more events in this first-in-the-nation primary state than any other Republican except for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in neighboring Massachusetts. He also spent more on TV ads than anyone except for Romney and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
McCain, who upset then-governor George W. Bush by winning the New Hampshire primary in 2000, repeated that performance, besting the rest of the Republican field, including Romney, who took second place.
Giuliani campaign spokeswoman Maria Comella said she didn't trust ABC News' numbers, and said regardless, the campaign had never downplayed an effort here. "The mayor's always said, Yes, we're making an effort in New Hampshire," she said.
Before the Iowa caucuses, Giuliani told ABC News that he was campaigning "proportionately throughout the country," meaning that instead of Iowa and New Hampshire he was focusing on Florida, which will hold its primary Jan. 29, and the delegate-rich states such as California and New York holding their contests along with approximately 20 other states on Super Duper Tuesday, Feb. 5.
But Giuliani's effort here has been Herculean. Romney held 176 events in New Hampshire through Tuesday, primary day, while Giuliani held 126. That's considerably more than McCain, who held 104, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who held 93.
Moreover, Giuliani held more events in New Hampshire than either Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., or Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., who are favored to come in first and second (not necessarily in that order) on the Democrats' side.
According to the Campaign Media Analysis Group, Giuliani has spent more money on TV ads in New Hampshire -- $2.5 million through Jan. 1, 2008 --
